When I was younger, making and sharing New Year’s resolutions was something of a New Year tradition. The question “What is your New Year’s resolution?” was very popular.
It was also common to share these resolutions within groups (family or friends) as a deep conversation starter or just for laughs. During family gatherings, a random uncle would ask, “What is your New Year’s resolution?” and everyone would take turns answering.
In classrooms at the start of the school year, some teachers would often require each student to share their resolutions. Even while walking down the street, if I wished my neighbors a happy New Year, some would typically respond, “Happy New Year to you too! What is your New Year’s resolution?” I might say, “I want to be more organized and tolerant,” and they would respond, “Ho ho ho! You better stick to it because when I see you this time next year, I’m going to ask you about it.”
But in this era, I have noticed that many people prefer just to exchange greetings and wishes and be on with their day, something about resolutions being personal as opposed to the conversation starter it was a couple of years ago.This stopped being my problem a couple of years ago because I simply stopped making them altogether. I was at a point in my life where I struggled with everything: relationships, career, and these resolutions just became another thing that added to my stress “that one thing I set out to do but didn’t.”
What is New Year’s Resolution?
Reading about “New Year’s Resolution,” I noticed some strange popular questions, such as “New Year resolution ideas” and “New Year resolution for work.” This led me to wonder if we, as people, have a cohesive idea about what a New Year’s resolution means. A tradition, conversation, starter deeper prayer, or a resolve?
So, what exactly does a New Year’s resolution mean to me?
The end of one year and the beginning of another is the perfect season for self-reflection. It prompts questions like, “What did I do well last year? What goals did I set? What relationships did I build? How was my performance at work? Was I a good person? Can I improve? After addressing these questions, you can identify areas in your life that you excelled in during the “year in review,” whether it be family, career, or spirituality, among other important areas, and give yourself a pat on the back.
On the other hand, if an area seems to be lacking or if you struggle with it, a New Year’s resolution often involves working on that aspect—discarding bad habits and improving/adapting good ones.
In essence, New Year’s resolutions are promises and goals we set at the beginning of a new year to improve and work in through the new year —be it in your family life, career, social life, or any other significant aspect of your life.
Examples of New Year Resolutions
New Year resolutions are typically anything from small lifestyle changes to big career moves and small purchases to big savings. They help to ensure we keep ourselves accountable and in check to ensure that growth and improvements are constant. If you are wondering what some examples of New Year’s resolutions are, some are:
- Go out more and make new friends
- Try new restaurants every month
- Finish one book every month
- Take my health and fitness more seriously
- Work on my anger issue
- Take a new course every month
- Start your podcast
- Get a standing desk
- Keep in touch with my friends
- Listen more and do not jump to conclusions
- Conquer my fear of spiders
Why Did I Stop Making Resolutions?
A 2023 poll conducted by Forbes among U.S. adults revealed that 44% of New Year’s resolutions last for two to three months. As expected, only 6% of individuals manage to keep their resolutions for over a year. In the UK, statistics show that 17% of Brits abandon their resolutions within a month, while only 11% can maintain their resolutions for an entire year. Additionally, 62% of people feel the pressure to set a New Year’s resolution, and I’ve experienced that pressure myself.
As I mentioned, there is an aunt and an uncle who would also ask and insist on an answer, most of the time, I had to make something up to get off the hook, and other times, I felt a little unserious or unmotivated when people around me shared their new year resolution, which also forced me to make one. Regardless of the circumstances in which I made my resolutions, the feeling of discontent and shame I felt halfway through the year when I fell short was always as heartbreaking as the way I felt when I failed other projects that were close to my heart. I was a failure anyway.
As I grew older, I realized the weight it carried and how much of a letdown it is, hence, dropping the culture of one enormous goal at the beginning of the year to making small goals which I believe helps me focus more on the task at hand and not only celebrate, but notice small wins.
What’s the verdict? Yes Resolution or No Resolutions?
Not to say that I do not make resolutions, but I see that what works best for me is to take things easy, one step at a time. Along with the spirit and hope and the possibility that comes with new beginnings once it’s that time of the year, I am automatically motivated and naturally try to improve, hence I set my goals in little sprints from January to December. So I just ride the wave of the new year and embrace the magic and the beauty of the new beginning as I set my goals as I go.
Read Also: “Just say no”
My preference isn’t utterly dismissive of the traditional way of making resolutions. Setting and accomplishing goals are just the perfect way to challenge ourselves and hold ourselves accountable. Some people thrive with big targets that could last a whole year. I wish I had that talent. So, while I may not have a set resolution year after year, my resolve is to always strive to be better no matter the time of the year, whether it’s a new year, a new month, or waking up from a long nap.
Conclusions
Whether the goal is to make 500000 steps every day till the end of the year or to walk from my home to the bus stop as often as I can, the idea behind making resolutions is to continue to grow and improve as a person and a member of society in any way possible. So, yes and no, find a system that works for you and set the massive goal, or wait until you get an epiphany, but also make sure there is growth and progress as you, regardless.
Hi, I am a writer for revampNG